Malaysia
Everything Palanor holds about Malaysia, in one place: 120 public signals, what its economy runs on, how often America’s largest companies name it, the news that names it, and Country Posture. Every figure is computed from stored readings and carries its source and date.
AsiaAsia-Pacific
The latest read
- GDP in current U.S. dollars: $472.2 billion (2025); record high since 1990; 1y +11.8%.
- Household consumption, share of GDP: 61.6% of GDP (2025); record high since 1990; 1y +0.87 pts.
- Net exports, share of GDP: 5.54% of GDP (2025); 29th percentile since 1990; highest since 2022; 1y +0.22 pts.
- S&P 500 companies naming it on earnings calls: 2.63% of companies (2026-10-21); 36th percentile since Dec 2021; lowest since Sep 4, 2026; 1y −0.42 pts.
Country Posture
What Malaysia’s economy is doing
Momentum
2025Inputs only. Did not pass the pre-registered back-test: 1996–2009: AUC 0.590 below 0.60; AUC 0.590 below the single-input baseline (0.624); 2010–2022: AUC 0.595 below 0.60; AUC 0.595 below the single-input baseline (0.641).
Inputs
| Real GDP growth | 5.2 |
| Growth against its three-year average | -0.7 |
| Change in unemployment | -0.1 |
| Change in the employment rate | 0.1 |
| Export volume growth | — |
| OECD leading indicator | — |
Resilience
202542Moderate buffers
0 = thin buffers · 100 = deep buffers
Moved most by reserves, months of imports (down) since the year before.
Inputs
| Interest as a share of revenue (2024) | 15.6 | 11 |
| Budget balance (2024) | -4.1 | 33 |
| Reserves, months of imports | 4.3 | 33 |
| Current account | 1.6 | 43 |
| Governance (WGI mean) | 0.47 | 82 |
| External debt | — | — |
Pressure
2025Inputs only. Did not pass the pre-registered back-test: 1996–2009: AUC 0.657 below the single-input baseline (0.672).
Inputs
| Inflation | 1.4 |
| Change in inflation | -0.5 |
| Currency move against the dollar | -6.6% |
| Conflict deaths per million | 0.0 |
| Political stability | 0.34 |
| Private credit, three-year change | 4.9 |
| Bond spread over U.S. Treasuries | — |
Posture describes what an economy is doing; it is not a rating and never ranks countries. Each input is read against the country’s own history and against every other economy that year. An axis shows a score only after passing a back-test fixed before any result was computed. Method and back-test.
Passport reach
Where a Malaysia passport opens doors
The share of world GDP, outside Malaysia itself, in the economies whose published rules let a holder of this passport in, as of October 2026. Palanor records the rules of destinations holding 88% of world GDP, from each government’s own list, and weights them by World Bank GDP for 2025. Rank is among 199 passports.
Work
0.9%rank 110 of 199
the right to work (free movement in full; treaty and working-holiday routes at half); 0 destinations in full, 2 at half.
Recorded changes
Reach is shown here and not weighted into Country Strength: it rewards membership of a free-movement area or a treaty more than the strength of an economy. Entry is always at the border officer’s discretion, and conditions (length of stay, fees, age limits) vary. Method, sources and the full ranking: Passports and citizenship.
Palanor calculation from each destination government's published rules; GDP weights from the World Bank (CC BY 4.0), one year for the whole line, so it moves only when a list changes.
GDP by expenditure
What Malaysia’s economy runs on
In 2025, household spending was 61.6% of GDP, government consumption 12.4%, investment 20.5% and net exports +5.5% (exports 71.0%, imports 65.4%).
World Bank national accounts. The parts can miss 100 by a few points (the statistical discrepancy).
Same World Bank definition for every country, so the shares compare directly: What each economy runs on.
IMF World Economic Outlook
The IMF’s outlook for Malaysia
The latest year before the October 2026 edition (often still an IMF estimate) and the IMF’s own projections. These are the IMF’s published forecasts, shown as published; Palanor does not project them further. Since the previous edition the IMF raised its growth forecast for this year by 0.5 percentage points (Palanor calculation).
| Measure | 2025 | 2026 IMF f’cast | 2027 IMF f’cast | 2031 IMF f’cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth% | 5.2 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Inflation, average consumer prices% | 1.4 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| Unemployment rate% of labor force | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 |
| GDP, current US dollarsUS$ bn | 472.7 | 547.1 | 589.8 | 767.2 |
| GDP at purchasing-power parityintl $ bn | 1,494 | 1,624 | 1,753 | 2,235 |
| GDP per person, US dollarsUS$ | 13,965 | 15,981 | 17,044 | 21,320 |
| Current account balance% of GDP | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Government gross debt% of GDP | 70.5 | 69.2 | 68.8 | 65.1 |
| Government overall balance% of GDP | -3.5 | -3.5 | -3.3 | -2.8 |
| Government primary balance% of GDP | -1.5 | -1.4 | -1.1 | -0.6 |
| Government net interest paid% of GDP · Palanor calc. | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.2 |
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database (edition on the projection). Dashed: the IMF's published projection.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database (edition on the projection). Dashed: the IMF's published projection.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026. Provided by the IMF “as is” and free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor. Net interest paid is a Palanor calculation: the IMF's primary balance minus its overall balance.
Discourse
How often S&P 500 companies name Malaysia
15 of 445 S&P 500 companies named Malaysia on an earnings call in the 90 days to 2026-10-21. 6.3% list it in the risk factors of their latest 10-K. Names only, counted by fixed rules set before any document was read; a mention says the country came up, not why.
Conflict
Organized violence
News
In the news
- Verstappen wins chaotic Bahrain GP in Malaysia as Russell retires
The Dutch driver claimed victory in a rain-interrupted Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia, as Russell's retirement helped Antonelli's title chances.
Palanor Wire2026-10-04positive · +wins
- Malaysia seizes $13 million in AI chips at airport, extends tech export enforcement
Customs officials intercepted advanced semiconductors at Kuala Lumpur International as Washington expands China technology import bans.
Palanor Wire2026-06-27neutral
- Malaysia: Perak residents demand government honour 30-year-old promise of subsidised housing
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre2026-10-15neutral
- Nepal: Health service providers arrested amid deepening Malaysia migrant worker recruitment dispute
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre2026-10-14neutral
- Eavesdropping on Malaysia’s dolphins: Interview with marine bioacoustician Saliza Bono
Mongabay2026-10-14neutral
- Malaysia and Indonesia: A tale of two palm oil producers reut.rs/4hYC6ls
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-14neutral
- Malaysia court denies ex-PM Najib Razak's request to suspend 15-year jail term reut.rs/4s6Pwkf
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-14negative · -suspend
- ASEAN to discuss tackling transboundary haze ahead of summit, Malaysia says reut.rs/47aquXJ
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-12neutral
- Malaysia's 1MDB in settlement talks with Deutsche Bank, report says reut.rs/4jRYEXC
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-12neutral
- Big Apple Donuts & Coffee Opens Its 100th Store in Malaysia, Celebrates With RM1 Pandan Donuts Nationwide
Marketaux (financial news API)2026-10-10neutral
- Sigenergy Unveils the Latest Energy Solutions at Malaysia’s IGEM 2026
Marketaux (financial news API)2026-10-10neutral
- Sigenergy Unveils the Latest Energy Solutions at Malaysia's IGEM 2026
Marketaux (financial news API)2026-10-10neutral
- Petronas to Raise Malaysia Dividend 19% to $7.8 Billion for 2027
OilPrice.com2026-10-09neutral
- Malaysia plans $112.5 billion budget for 2027 ahead of possible election reut.rs/4AU45vi
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-09neutral
Headlines that name Malaysia, matched by name with fixed rules (a wrong match is worse than a missing one). Tone is read from each headline’s own words; no model reads or summarizes an article, and other publishers’ stories link out.
Company graph
Companies headquartered in Malaysia
Palanor’s company graph holds 148 entities headquartered here, 2 with a listed ticker (GLEIF headquarters address, else legal address).
- BioNexus Gene Lab CorpBGLC · Sheridan
- Agape ATP CorpATPC · LAS VEGAS
Signals
Every series about Malaysia
Grouped by theme, the most-read first. All 120 in the Library.
Growth and output9
- Population, Historical (Maddison): Malaysiarecord high since 1820; 1y +1.1%32,956,320 people2022
- GDP per Person, Historical (Maddison): Malaysiarecord high since 1820; 1y +7.5%26,6292022
- GDP, Historical (Maddison): Malaysiarecord high since 1820; 1y +8.7%877.62022
- Malaysia · GDP · USD bn (current)record high since 1990; 1y +11.8%$472.2bn2025
- Malaysia: Share of World GDP at Market Exchange Rates82nd percentile since 1990; highest since 2019; 1y +0.021 pts0.4% of world GDP2025
- Malaysia: Share of World GDP Minus Share of World Population68th percentile since 1990; highest since 2022; 1y +0.02 pts-0.042025
- Malaysia: Share of World Populationrecord high since 1990; 1y +0.001 pts0.44% of world population2025
- Share of World GDP, Historical (Maddison): Malaysia93rd percentile since 1820; 1y +0.033 pts0.67% of world GDP2022
- Malaysia Nominal GDP, Index 2015 = 100record high since 2015; 1y +4.7%171.92025
Money, rates and credit4
- Malaysia · Central Bank Policy Rate (IMF)28th percentile since Dec 2001; 1y −0.25 pts2.75%2026-05-01
- Malaysia Credit to the Private Non-Financial Sector (Local Currency)record high since Apr 1964; 1y +6.6%3,2642026-01-01
- Bank Negara Malaysia Total Assets · % of Malaysia GDP5th percentile since Jan 1998; 1y −0.738 pts30.1% of GDP2026-04-01
- Malaysia Private Credit, Index 2015 = 100record high since 2015; 1y +5.9%164.52025
Government and debt2 of 4
- Malaysia · Cyclically Adjusted Balance (IMF)36th percentile since 1991; 1y −0.0178 pts-3.68% of potential GDP2025
- Malaysia · Cyclically Adjusted Primary Balance (IMF)53rd percentile since 1991; 1y −0.149 pts-1.68% of potential GDP2025
Trade and capital flows8
- U.S. Chipmaking Equipment Imports From Malaysia, 12 Monthsrecord high since Dec 2013; 1y +9.8%1.33 $ billions2026-08-01
- U.S. Integrated Circuits Exports to Malaysia, 12 Months95th percentile since Dec 2013; 1y +7.2%7.65 $ billions2026-08-01
- U.S. Integrated Circuits Imports From Malaysia, 12 Months10th percentile since Dec 2013; lowest since Feb 2015; 1y −13.7%8.76 $ billions2026-08-01
- Malaysia · Net International Investment Position (IMF)77th percentile since Jan 2015; highest since Jan 2024; 1y +36.7%$16.8bn2026-04-01
- U.S. Goods Trade With Malaysia (Exports + Imports)record high since 1985; 1y +10.5%88.2 $ billions2025
- Malaysia · Net International Investment Position, % of GDP (IMF)71st percentile since 1980; lowest since 2019; 1y −0.74 pts-1.36% of GDP2025
- Malaysia's Share of U.S. Goods Trade63rd percentile since 1987; highest since 2006; 1y +0.078 pts1.58% of U.S. goods trade2025
- Malaysia · International Tourist Arrivalsrecord low since 1995; 1y −83.4%4,333,000 arrivals2020
Energy and resources10 of 18
- Palm Oil Price, Malaysia (Monthly)96th percentile since Jan 1960; highest since Apr 2026; 1y +13.8%1,180 USD/mt2026-09-01
- Tropical Log Price, Malaysian Meranti (Monthly)51st percentile since Jan 1960; highest since Feb 2026; 1y −5.5%190.3 USD/m³2026-09-01
- Tropical Sawnwood Price, Malaysian Meranti (Monthly)76th percentile since Jan 1960; 1y −0.6%731.3 USD/m³2026-09-01
- Malaysia · Bioenergy Share of Electricity Generation75th percentile since 2000; 1y unchanged0.81% of generation2025
- Malaysia · Carbon Intensity of Electricity13th percentile since 2000; 1y +0.2%605.5 gCO2e/kWh2025
- Malaysia · Coal Share of Electricity Generation87th percentile since 2000; highest since 2021; 1y +2.48 pts44.9% of generation2025
- Malaysia · Electricity Generation94th percentile since 2000; 1y −0.4%210.4 TWh2025
- Malaysia · Gas Share of Electricity Generation10th percentile since 2000; lowest since 2021; 1y −2.16 pts33.4% of generation2025
- Malaysia · Hydro Share of Electricity Generation87th percentile since 2000; highest since 2022; 1y +0.49 pts16.5% of generation2025
- Malaysia · Other Fossil Fuels Share of Electricity Generation29th percentile since 2000; lowest since 2021; 1y −0.96 pts1.28% of generation2025
Conflict and geopolitics2 of 6
- Malaysia · Organized-Violence Deaths (UCDP, annual)record low since 1989; 1y unchanged0 deaths2025
- Malaysia · State-Based Conflict Deaths (UCDP, annual)record low since 1989; 1y unchanged0 deaths2025
Migration3 of 5
- International Migrant Stock: Malaysia (UN)record high since 19903,806,514 people2024
- International Migrants as a Share of Population: Malaysia (UN)56th percentile since 1990; lowest since 200510.7% of population2024
- Change in Migrant Share of Population Since 2000: Malaysia (UN)lowest since 20053.682024
AI stance and technology4
- AI User Share: Malaysia (Microsoft AI Diffusion)1y +4.30 pts22.6% of people aged 15-642026-06-30
- AI Optimism Lean · Malaysia (Pew)26.2%2026
- More Concerned Than Excited About AI · Malaysia (Pew)31%2026
- More Excited Than Concerned About AI · Malaysia (Pew)11%2026
Climate and the physical world4 of 6
- Malaysia CO₂ Emissions (Global Carbon Budget)record high since 1890; 1y +5.0%290.2 Mt CO₂2024
- Malaysia Cumulative CO₂ Emissions (Global Carbon Budget)record high since 1890; 1y +4.3%7.04 Gt CO₂2024
- Malaysia · Plastic Emitted to the Ocean by Rivers · tonnes per year (2015)72,832 t/yr2015
- Malaysia · Share of Global River Plastic Emitted to the Ocean · % (2015)7.24% of world2015
More about this country2
- USD / MYR75th percentile since Jan 1990; lowest since Sep 30, 2026; 1y −3.5%4.08 rate2026-10-16
- Malaysia · Total Reserves incl. Gold (IMF)95th percentile since Dec 1950; lowest since May 2026; 1y +6.7%$131.9bn2026-09-01
Peers
Elsewhere in Asia
Alphabetical. Palanor does not rank countries.
AfghanistanArmeniaAzerbaijanBahrainBangladeshBhutanBruneiCambodiaChinaCyprusGeorgiaHong KongIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIsraelJapanJordanKazakhstanKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLebanonMacaoMaldivesMongoliaMyanmarNepalNorth KoreaOmanPakistanPalestinePhilippinesQatarSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSouth KoreaSri LankaSyriaTaiwanTajikistanThailandTimor-LesteTürkiyeTurkmenistanUnited Arab EmiratesUzbekistanVietnamYemen